Vatican City
The Vatican Gardens have been a place of quiet and meditation for the Popes ever since 1279 when Nicholas III (Giovanni Gaetano Orsini, 1277-1280) moved his residence back to the Vatican from the Lateran Palace. The gardens and parks were established during the Renaissance and Baroque era and are decorated with fountains and sculptures. The gardens cover more than half of the Vatican territory and are meticulously kept, an oasis of peace with beautiful views everywhere you look.
Photo by Ludo Kuipers, Sat Nov 05, 1994